Jay Leno defended by US over Sikh Golden Temple jibe

Jay Leno has been defended by the US after drawing criticism from the Sikh community for a joke he told about US presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Last week on The Tonight Show, Leno showed a photo of Sikh holy site the Golden Temple of Amritsar while quipping that the building was a summer home for wealthy Republican candidate Romney.

American Sikhs have now lodged an online petition calling for Leno to apologize for mocking their religion by portraying the Golden Temple as a ritzy palace. The gag has also been called "quite unfortunate and quite objectionable" by overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi, according to BBC News.

Leno has not offered any comment on the complaints, but US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland has weighed in on the controversy.

Nuland told the press: "I hope [Leno will] be appreciative if we make the point that his comments are constitutionally protected in the United States under free speech and, frankly, they appeared to be satirical in nature."

She also acknowledged that "Sikh Americans have contributed greatly to the United States".

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno airs weeknights at 11.35/10.35c on NBC.